Notes: There were some fun references to New York, including a line from New York New York, at the start of Llama. The first Let's Go started as HYHU. This Possum had some early Secret Language, including a Random Note signal, as well as Funk #49 teases.

I feel compelled to write a "review" since this was my first show. I should also confess that while I've downloaded it off the spreadsheet, I don't want to listen to it. So much of the magic from that night was due to being so blown away by everything and I don't want to tarnish that memory. With the exception of "Take the A Train", "Fire" and the tease of "Rocky Mountain Way" I had never heard any of these songs before.

Some context: I grew up on Long Island and was a senior in high school when I was dragged to my first show. I say "dragged" because I had been dumped by my girlfriend of 2 years a mere 2 days before this show (Valentine's Day!). I moped my way into a local record store where I was friends with some of the employees with whom I traded Dead tapes. "Matt, what are you doing tonight?" my friend Sue demanded. When I responded with an Eyore-esqu "nothing" she corrected me. "You're coming to the city to see Phish!" she exclaimed. I'm not sure what lead me to agree. I admit I was a pretty narrow-minded music fan. Something just told me to go, so I did.

The Sloth had me impressed, though I had no idea what it was about. The musicianship just stood out from the start. My Sweet One had me a little perplexed but by the time Divided Sky started my jaw was on the floor. What the hell is this? How am I supposed to figure out the name of a song if there are so few words?

That was it. I was hooked and there was no turning back. I'm sure I annoyed the hell out of everybody around me as I kept asking what each song was.

The jumping on tramps during Mike's song was unreal. Fluffhead and Reba left me speechless. How could they go from something so delicate (Mango, Hydrogen) into things that rocked so hard (Llama, Chalkdust, Mikes)? What was with the synchronized dance moves? Where could I get more?????

I'll probably listen to this show all the way through one day, but right now I am content knowing that I will probably never experience a musical first like that again.

Listened to this one twice, and still don't have much to say about it. Thoroughly average show, not bad, not amazing. Highlights here are probably a solid, though short, Weekapaug and a Runaway Jim that peaks nicely. The Possum is missing from the spreadsheet recording, so maybe it was a really amazing version, but pretty much everything else is well played but standard. Three stars.

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